Printing apparatus and printing method

Abstract

For a printing apparatus, a first conveyance speed for a first printing medium is determined according to first print data to be printed on the first printing medium and a second conveyance speed for a second printing medium is determined according to second print data to be printed on the second printing medium that follows the first printing medium along a conveying path. In a case where the second conveyance speed is equal to the first conveyance speed, a conveyance operation of the second printing medium is started before the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path. In a case where the second conveyance speed is different from the first conveyance speed, the conveyance operation of the second printing medium is started after the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A printing apparatus comprising:
 a conveyance unit configured to convey a first printing medium and a second printing medium that follows the first printing medium along a conveying path; 
 a print unit disposed in the conveying path and configured to print on a printing medium according to print data; and 
 a control unit configured to control the conveyance unit and to determine a first conveyance speed for the first printing medium according to first print data to be printed on the first printing medium, and determine a second conveyance speed for the second printing medium according to second print data to be printed on the second printing medium, 
 wherein 
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is equal to the first conveyance speed, the control unit starts a conveyance operation of the second printing medium before the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path, and 
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is higher than the first conveyance speed, the control unit starts the conveyance of the second printing medium after the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       2. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is lower than the first conveyance speed, the control unit starts conveyance of the second printing medium while the first printing medium is being conveyed in the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       3. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is further configured to set the first conveyance speed according to the first print data and set the second conveyance speed according to the second print data. 
 
     
     
       4. The printing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the control unit sets the first conveyance speed based on a result of counting a number of dots to be printed by the print unit according to the first print data, and sets the second conveyance speed based on a result of counting a number of dots to be printed by the print unit according to the second print data, and 
 the larger a count value indicating each of the results of counting, the lower the speed at which the control unit sets the corresponding one of the first conveyance speed and the second conveyance speed. 
 
     
     
       5. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the conveyance unit has a plurality of conveying motors each configured to drive a plurality of drive rollers that nip and convey a printing medium, and 
 the control unit controls the conveyance unit such that a conveying motor of the conveying motors does not convey the first printing medium and the second printing medium simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       6. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a feeding unit configured to feed a printing medium from a cassette in which a plurality of printing media are stored and guide a leading edge of the printing medium to the conveying path, wherein 
 while the conveyance unit is conveying the first printing medium in the conveying path, the control unit causes the feeding unit to feed a leading edge of the second printing medium to the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       7. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the print unit is provided with a line type print head. 
     
     
       8. A printing apparatus comprising:
 a conveyance unit configured to convey a first printing medium and a second printing medium that follows the first printing medium along a conveying path; 
 a print unit disposed in the conveying path and configured to print on a printing medium according to print data; and 
 a control unit configured to control the conveyance unit and determine a first conveyance speed for the first printing medium according to first print data to be printed on the first printing medium, and determine a second conveyance speed for the second printing medium according to second print data to be printed on the second printing medium, 
 wherein 
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is equal to the first conveyance speed, the control unit starts conveyance of the second printing medium with a specified distance from the first printing medium while the first printing medium is being conveyed in the conveying path, 
 and 
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is higher than the first conveyance speed, the control unit starts the conveyance of the second printing medium with a distance longer than the specified distance from the first printing medium while the first printing medium is being conveyed in the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       9. The printing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the higher the first conveyance speed, the longer the specified distance is set. 
 
     
     
       10. The printing apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the control unit is further configured to set the first conveyance speed according to the first print data and set the second conveyance speed according to the second print data. 
 
     
     
       11. The printing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the control unit sets the first conveyance speed based on a result of counting a number of dots to be printed by the print unit according to the first print data, and sets the second conveyance speed based on a result of counting a number of dots to be printed by the print unit according to the second print data, and 
 the larger a count value indicating each of the results of counting, the lower the speed at which the control unit sets the corresponding one of the first conveyance speed and the second conveyance speed. 
 
     
     
       12. The printing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the conveyance unit has a plurality of conveying motors each configured to drive a plurality of drive rollers that nip and convey a printing medium, and 
 the control unit controls the conveyance unit such that a conveying motor of the conveying motors does not convey the first printing medium and the second printing medium simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       13. The printing apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a feeding unit configured to feed a printing medium from a cassette in which a plurality of printing media are stored and guide a leading edge of the printing medium to the conveying path, wherein 
 while the conveyance unit is conveying the first printing medium in the conveying path, the control unit causes the feeding unit to feed a leading edge of the second printing medium to the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       14. The printing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is lower than the first conveyance speed, the control unit starts the conveyance of the second printing medium with a distance shorter than the specified distance from the first printing medium while the first printing medium is being conveyed in the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       15. A printing method comprising:
 a conveyance step of conveying a first printing medium and a second printing medium that follows the first printing medium along a conveying path; 
 a printing step of printing on a printing medium according to print data, using a print unit disposed in the conveying path; 
 a determination step of determining a first conveyance speed for the first printing medium according to first print data to be printed on the first printing medium, and determining a second conveyance speed for the second printing medium according to second print data to be printed on the second printing medium; and 
 a control step of controlling the conveyance step, 
 wherein 
 in the control step, in a case in which the second conveyance speed is equal to the first conveyance speed, a conveyance operation of the second printing medium is started before the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path, and 
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is higher than the first conveyance speed, the conveyance of the second printing medium is started after the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       16. The printing method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 in the control step, 
 in a case in which the second conveyance speed is lower than the first conveyance speed, conveyance of the second printing medium is started while the first printing medium is being conveyed in the conveying path. 
 
     
     
       17. The printing method according to  claim 15 , wherein the print unit is provided with a line type print head.